Rendering: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership

A new development featuring a pair of mixed-use towers aims to add 573 rental units to South Vancouver.

Vancouver city council recently approved Chard Development’s rezoning application for 622-688 Southwest Marine Drive, located west of SkyTrain’s Marine Drive Station.

The project would include 28-storey and 32-storey mixed-use towers sitting atop two six-storey podiums, with the tallest building reaching a height of 330 feet. The development would encompass 456 market rental units and 117 non-market rental units.

The market unit mix is 56 studios, 241 one-bedroom units, 153 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units. The below-market rental unit mix is 54 studios, 21 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units.

“This project will directly address a critical part of the housing continuum along the non-market rental social housing and the low end of market,” reads the rezoning application. “Increasing the housing supply for this particular range of housing options would allow households that currently are not able to find safe, stable affordable housing in the City of Vancouver to stay and work in the community rather than move to other municipalities.”

The YWCA will operate 28 of the below-market rental units — 22 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units — devoted to social housing for single mothers and their children. The below-market units will integrated with market unit neighbours on the lower floors.

Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership is handling design aspects for the project, Chard Development’s largest to date. As part of the rezoning approval, the developer is required to provide $12.7 million in development cost levies and $900,000 in public art.

“The site’s proximity to the Fraser River with its strong ecological and industrial heritage has inspired the architectural design,” the application stated. “The exterior materials offer a subtle nod to the sawmills and industrial yards that once dominated the landscape, while the river’s natural attributes are reflected in the colour selection.”

Rendering: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership

The development site is occupied by three low-storey buildings, including a Denny’s. It sits just west of the Ashley Mar Housing Co-operative, which is being redeveloped to construct a three-tower, multi-family complex offering 649 housing units.

All residents will have access to the development’s 23,400 square feet of indoor amenity space, including a basketball court and gym, as well as outdoor amenity spaces on the podium and tower rooftops.

The lower floors will contain a 7,200 square-foot childcare facility for as many as 49 children. The project will also feature 17,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space facing Marine Drive, constructed around a central plaza and mid-block pedestrian connection.

Three underground levels will offer space for 276 parking stalls and 1,102 bicycle parking spaces.

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